There's more on recent rumors that Vivendi SA is considering selling off its stake in Activision Blizzard on Reuters, where they say that the French telecom giant had decided it will divest itself of the gaming unit. The report indicates that they are gauging interest from those with suitably deep pocketbooks: "Although a formal process has not started, bankers close to Vivendi are sounding out cash-rich trade players, including China's Tencent and U.S. duo Time Warner and Microsoft, as well as private-equity heavyweights KKR, Providence and Blackstone, banking sources said." Reuters got no comment responses about this from Microsoft and Time Warner. Thanks VG247.

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ASeven wrote on Jul 11, 2012, 14:52:And you also point out all that is wrong in the gaming industry, with publishers today. EA's CEO job is to "solely to maximize shareholder value" and not actually hear what gamers, the main customers, want. No wonder this and many industries are slowly sinking, losing touch with the customers is a sure way to prevent said companies of ever making a reasonable profit ever again.

I can't decide if this statement is too simplistic or not broad enough.

One can argue the problem with every company is that the CEO is only out to maximize shareholder value. In fact, he's legally obligated to do so. He has no choice in the matter - either he does it or he's sued as his fiduciary duties are legal.

But "maximize shareholder value" is vague, isn't it? How does one do so. Does one cut back on costs, or does one increase costs to make better products that sell more? You can do either. So, in this way, your argument is incorrect.

These days, though, people focus on the former because it's easier, but it's stupid. They only see shareholder value as being about controlling money, not as a function of pleasing your customers.

Beyond this, the true issue with virtually every company today is hitting expectations, but that's a different rant.